Folding table



0. E. STONE FOLDING TABLE Aug. 3, 1937.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 22, 1936 Fig.1. 6

OwenEfi'io awn FLY {II/M J m 0. E. STONE FOLDING TABLE Aug 3, 1937.

Filed July 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Shed 2 o ztzv Patented Aug. 3, 1937 FOLDING TABLE OWBIIYE. Stone, Siler City, N. 0., assignor to High Point Bending and Chair Co., Siler City, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application July 22, 1936, Serial No. 91,916

- p '7 Claims.

This invention relates to folding tables, more particularly of the card type although not so limited, and the primary object thereof is to provide a table of this type whichhas improved means for locking the table 'both in folded and unfolded positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a table of this type wherein opening thereof can be accomplished more easily and quickly, and in its more specific aspect by'merepositioning of the table with its legs pointing 'tojthe floor and then lifting same, whereupon the legs will automatically assume operative position and willbeautomatically locked.

Still further the invention aims to provide locking means which form a part of the opening and closing means for the, legs.

The invention still further aims to provide a table of this type wherein all of the operating mechanism for the legs is connected to the side rails of the table, leaving the top of the latter free of any connections with the operating mechanism.

In the drawings,--

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan View showing the legs in section and showing in dottedlines the initial position of the locking lever to unlock the legs for unfolding, and showing in full lines the position of the locking means when the legs are unfolded;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the legs in folded position and the locking mechanism in locked position;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view partly in section with the legs in operative position;

Fig. 6 is a section online 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view'of one of the brackets employed for bracing the legs in unfolded position.

In proceeding in accordance with the present invention the table has the usual top I which may be of any form, and which has depending side rails 2. As shown more clearly in Fig. 5 each of the side rails 2 are grooved on their inner faces as indicated at 3, and are provided with plates 4 which may be secured in position in any suitable manner. In each of the corners of the table and abutting the adjacent side rails there are U-shaped brackets 5 to which the legs are pivoted at I.

Three braces 8, each of similar form, and a fourth brace 9 are provided, the latter brace being formed in two sections l and H, of which H has a hand operating lever extending atan angle thereto, and is pivoted at an intermediate point at l3 to the adjacent end of the section Ill. The section I] is formed with a. U-shaped slot M as shown in Fig. 6 to receive a headed stud l5 which is carried by the section II) so that when the parts are in the position of Fig.

3 it will be noted that the sections l0 and 'II will be in register, oralined, and will function precisely as the braces 8, thus latching the parts 10 in foldedrelation. I l

The adjacent ends of the braces: 8, are pivoted together as shown inFig. 5 -by a pin 16 which latter preferably has 'anti friction' rollers l'l" mounted onits ends, while the ends of the sections [9 and II are likewise secured to the adjacent ends of the adjacent braces 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The rollers are received in the grooves 3 and are movable lengthwise thereof, while prevented from movement out of the 20 grooves by the plates 4.

As depicted in Fig. 7 substantially L-shaped brackets I! are secured to the braces 8 and to the outer end of section II] of brace 9 for the purpose of pivotally supporting bracing links I8 which latter are pivoted at 19' to the legs 6 and at I9 to the brackets H, the latter links extending at an angle tobrace the legs 6 as shown in Fig. 2. I

For the purpose of tensioning the locking mechanism, a coil spring 20 is provided which is secured to section II! of brace 9 and to the adjacent bracket 5.

In operation, and assuming that the parts are in the folded position of Fig. 3, the locking lever i2 is moved to the right thereby to disengage same from the stud I5, thus releasing the braces 8 and 9, and through links l8 the legs will be moved to a vertical position. At this point it is to be noted that when the parts are in the folded position of Fig. 3 it is optional with the user to lock the lever l2 in said position of Fig. 3, or otherwise expressed, the lever I2 may occupy the dotted line position of Fig. 1 when the parts are in folded position. With thelever in the dotted line position of Fig. 2 it is merely necessary to move the table to a position where its top faces upwardly, and to then lift same, whereupon the legs will automatically move downwardly, or one of the legs can be grasped to move same to a vertical position, and the locking lever 12 will be automatically moved to occupy the full line position of Fig. 1 wherein all of the legs will be positively locked in their vertical position and against movement.

To fold the table it is merely necessary to move the locking lever I! to the dotted position of Fig. 1 whereby upon grasping any one of the four legs and moving same to folded position the remaining three legs will be correspondingly moved through the links l8 and the braces 8 and 9, and as above stated and if desired, lever l2 may be permitted to remain in the dotted line position of Fig. 1 so that in subsequent unfolding of the table it will not be necessary to unlock the lever I2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the locking mechanism forms a part of one of the braces and ,when in the position of Fig. 3 same acts precisely as do the remaining three braces 8. It will also be understood that the spring 20 acts to hold the parts in the full line position of Fig. 3 thereby holding the lock in its locked position and against accidental movement; upon the lever I2 being manually moved to the full line position as shown in Fig. 3.

What is claimed is:

l. In a folding table, a top having depending side rails, each formed with a longitudinal slot,

legs pivoted to the corners of the top, a series of braces having their adjacent ends pivoted together, means connected to the pivoted portions of the braces and slidable in the respective slots to hold the braces against movement laterally of the slots, connections between the legs and the braces, one of said braces being formed in sections which are pivoted together and one of said sections having a manual lever connected thereto, and means to removably lock the sections together, and to unlock same by said lever.

2. A folding table in accordance with claim 1,

wherein the connections include a bracing link pivoted to each leg, and wherein the link is pivoted to the adjacent brace for movement therewith.

3. A folding table in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the sections of the sectional brace has a coil spring connected thereto and to a fixed point on the table to hold the sections in locked position.

4. A folding table in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connections include a bracing link pivoted to each leg, and wherein the link is pivoted to the adjacent brace for movement therewith, and wherein one of the sections of the sectional brace has a coil spring connected thereto and to a fixed point on the table to hold the sections in locked position.

5. In a folding table, a top having legs pivoted thereto, a series of braces pivoted together at their adjacent ends, connections between the legs and the braces, means to mount the braces at their pivoted ends for sliding movement, one of said braces being formed in sections which are pivoted together, a hand lever connected to one of said sections and means to removably lock the last named section to the other section by pivotal movement of said lever.

6. A folding table in accordance with claim 5, wherein there are spring means for tensioning the last named section.

7. A folding table in accordance with claim 5,

wherein the connections include bracing links pivoted to the legs and movably connected to the respective adjacent braces.

OWEN E. STONE. 

